There are five medical schools in Israel, affiliated with the major universities and the Technion. These studies span approximately seven years, with the first three years focusing on basic pre-clinical fields, while the following years, which include practical specialization, focus on various clinical areas. It’s important to understand that these are extremely challenging and demanding studies, and above all, one must meet the strict admission requirements set by the institutions.
Which Medical Schools Operate in Israel
As mentioned, there are five medical schools in Israel, affiliated with Tel Aviv University, Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Bar Ilan, and the Technion. Each faculty sets its own admission requirements, and all provide a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences after the first three years. Later, upon completion of academic assignments and the internship period in hospitals, graduates receive a Doctor of Medicine degree and a license to practice as a physician.
Admission Requirements for Medical Studies
It’s important to understand that medical studies are the aspiration of many people, and typically these are highly qualified individuals with developed intellectual abilities. Moreover, the studies themselves are characterized by a very high academic level, requiring institutions to set a corresponding threshold to ensure the quality of the program. On the other hand, the institution itself invests considerable funds in training each doctor, certainly compared to the investment required in humanities or social sciences, which does not allow expanding the program beyond a certain number of participants. The combination of all these factors ultimately results in exceptionally high admission requirements for medical schools in Israel. For example, in 2014, Tel Aviv University set an admission threshold of 720 on the psychometric exam, Jerusalem University required a psychometric score of 760 points, and Ben Gurion University 757 points. This is alongside a very high high school GPA, as well as admission interviews with faculty staff, personality tests, and group dynamics. However, it should be emphasized that the scores and accompanying requirements may change from year to year according to the demand for the faculty and the decisions of the professional staff.
Additional Options
The main track offered by medical schools in Israel spans about seven years, more or less. However, those with a bachelor’s degree in certain fields such as pharmacy, chemistry, and biology can be accepted into an accelerated track and convert their profession to medicine. This is a four-year program plus one year of internship, similar in essence to the longer track, where students are required to complete certain courses according to the field they studied in their first degree.